Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-08-26
A Prince of Villainy.
3ancroft's Popular Tribunals. ]

lnson. He was native OF New
York, and while attending school in
his thirteenth year he forged the
name of cashier of a bank at the
suggestion of boy few years older,
who had forged the presidents name.
He was successful in this and drew
1900 on the check. Soon after he
attempted robbery of $1,000 with
the same companion, Granstine, and
another accomplice in carrying out
the project Granstine murdered q
young woman, but was apprehended
and hanged for the crime.
When l8 years old Robinson, with
the aid of an accomplice, robbed his
own father of $500. He then went
to Pittsburg, and obtained place as
cabin boy on board steamboat. At
the instigation of the steward he stole
$4,000 from a sleeping passenger.
He met the steward again in Cincin.
natl, and together they travelled to
New Orleans, where they engaged in
new crimes. Obtaining responsible
position in hotel, he remained there
several months, and then, with the
aid OF others, succeeded in robbing
the safe of $4,000. Suspicion was
fastened upon him, and he was ar
rested for the crime, but managed to
establish his apparent innocence.
On one occasion he met two men
in Albany, Hunt and Edwards, by
bo Ia fn hn olyillr,11
penman and a sharp rascal. They
made him their partner and expended
$500 on him for for dress and jewelry,
that he might passed for gentleman.
After due PREPARATION be presented at
{ bank forged check for 80, 500 and
obtained the money without difficulty.
They then went Immediately to
Philadelphia, where he practiced on
one name for several days. At
length he was able to counterfeit it
so well that he prepared a check and
drew $4,000 from bank, The
larger part of his share, which was
$4,000, he sent to his mother, telling
her that he had drawn it IN lottery.
By the same means the scoundrels
secured $4,000 in Baltimore, In
Cincinnati another check for $40, 600
was passed, and on going to Louis
vile like amount was obtained in
the same way, but Robinson became
dissatisfied with the division, quar-
relied with his companions and sep
arated from them.
From Louisville Robinson went to
New Orleans, where he robbed the
custom house safe. His accomplice,
negro, was arrested on suspicion
and whipped, but refused to diyulge
anything. Securing employment on
a plantation, he opened safe and
abstracted $4,000. His next victim
was a United States officer, whom he
robbed of $4,000 belonging to the
government. Another man was con-
demued for this deed, and Robinson
stood cody by and saw him executed.
In travelling from point to point be
was constantly robbing his fellow
passengers. For knocking down a
man with sling-shot and taking
81, 800 Robinson was arrested, but
escaped by paying his lawyers lib
orally. In Cincinnati he and his ac-
complice broke open jewelry es-
tablishment, and his partner in
crime was imprisoned for seven
years. Memphis, Vicksburg and
Natchez in turn were successfully
visited by this prince of villains. He
again sent his mother money, $4,000
this time, leaving in his own pos
session $500 in altered bills. One of
his accomplices in many crimes was
hanged for murder in Cincinnati.
In St. Louis Robinson obtained
money by forgery, and achieved
great success as a pickpocket. For
six months he was in the county Jail
at New Orleans, and at various times
he was arrested, but false swearing,
bribery and the skill of his lawyers
cleared him.
After becoming notorious in the
south and east, with detectives on
his tracks, the country became too
warm for him until he came to Cali.
fornia At Marysville he attempted
to kill his wife on account of her un
faithfulness. He escaped his pursu-
ers and went to Nevada. He follow
ed his profession succ ,ssfully where
ever he went, but at last his rare luck
deserted him. After perpetrating
many successful felonies in Sacra-
mento, he was at one time drinking
and gambling in a certain place with
a few companions. With two or
three others they started for saloon;
one of them was an acquaintance of
but few hours, and was thought to
have money. AS they reached some
bushes in the road Robinson and his
accomplices threw the man to the
ground and robbed him.
Robinson was soon arrested,
brought to trial and sentenced to
death, and was to be executed on the
same day with two high waymen.
Robinson, however, was respited by
the governor But this did not
please the vigilance committee. They
demanded that this rascal should be
hanged with the others. When the
hour for execution arrived the sheriff
brought the three men from the sta
ton house, and, after reading the re-
prieve of Robinson, ordered the two
men who were condemned, to the
place of execution and Robinson back
to prison. But as the guards were
taking him there they were over
powered, and their prisoner taken to
the grove where the other prisoners
were meeting their deserts. After
the sheriff had discharged his duty
with the two condemned, and had
washed his hands of what was to fol-
low, Robinson was mounted on the
same scaffold by the vigilance COM
mittee and speedily sent to follow his
comrades.